MARSHALLS BASES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25457, 11 February 1944, Page 3

MARSHALLS BASES

USE BY AMERICANS WORK OF RECONSTRUCTION NEW YOEK. F€b. 9. The American invasion forces and their engineers are rapidly converting the shelled-out Japanese strong-points of Kwajalein Island into bases for new Central Pacific attacks. Supplies are pouring into the captured islands, and American aircraft will soon be operating from Kwajalein and Roi airfields. The commander-in-chief in the Pacific, Admiral Nimitz, in a statement upon his return to Pearl Harbour, inferred that the whole of the Marshalls area is now under American control. “The remaining 10,000 Japanese on the four principal atolls of Maloelap, Mili, Jaluit, and Wotje will not bother us, because their air strength has been neutralised,” he said.

Admiral Nimitz professed disappointment that the Japanese Fleet had not appeared. He said there was evidence that enemy submarines were in the vicinity of Kwajalein, but none had fired on surface vessels. He predicted that the Japanese Navy would offer more resistance as the Americans moved westward across the Pacific. “This will’ be welcome, because we are prepared to meet resistance,” he added. “Wake Island will now be useful to the Japanese only as a base from which to attack the Marshall bases, but it is also possible' for the Americans to hit Wake from Kwajalein with bombers.”

The official spokesman at Pearl Harbour said the names of the other islands in the Marshalls will not be announced in future after bombing attacks, as Japanese communications are disrupted and announcements would help the enemy to find out the extent of American activities.